Big Island Now Poll results: Improving physical health was top New Year’s resolution

Big Island Now’s most recent poll asked readers what their New Year’s resolution would be for 2024.

Of the 64% of respondents who say they make a resolution, improving their physical health came in first.

A new Forbes Health/OnePoll that surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults in October last year found that 48% of Americans planned to make a New Year’s resolution to improve their fitness this year and 34% said their main goal in 2024 is to lose weight.

Improving their mental health was the second most popular choice for Big Island Now readers’ resolutions. That same goal was third among those responding to the Forbes Health/OnePoll.

Here are the full results:

• I don’t make resolutions: 128 (36%).
• Improve my physical health: 50 (14%).
• Improve my mental health: 39 (11%).
• Lose weight: 29 (8%).
• Be kinder: 26 (7%).
• Make more money: 23 (6%).
• Travel someplace new: 22 (6%).
• To find a soul mate: 19 (5%).
• Drink less: 8 (2%).
• To date more: 4 (1%).

Total votes: 348.

If you do make a New Year’s resolution, it can often hard to keep it. Many people fail no matter what the goal is, ending up only keeping it for just more than a few months.

Kaiser Permanente says in a Dec. 23, 2022, article on its website that there are three main reasons why: having unrealistic goals, lack of planning and no tracking process, which speaks to accountability.

The health care organization offered some basic tips to help make a resolution that is attainable:

• Make goals specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound, or SMART.
• Make a plan.
• Track your progress.

To stay on track, Kaiser says:

• Write down your goals.
• Revisit your goals regularly.
• Be accountable.
• Have fun with it.
• Prepare for when your motivation wanes.

Granted, there is no “cookie-cutter” approach, the health care organization said to do what works best for you.